Zac pulled over the chair and before sitting asked Tabitha, “Is this all right with you?”
Tabitha nodded, secretly wishing he would sit even closer, then busied herself with a long sip of coffee.
“Zac’s been taking a super hands-on approach recently too.”
Tabitha’s coffee scalded her windpipe as the comment caught her off guard. She covered her mouth with a napkin to keep from coughing all over the table and took comfort in the warm hand gently rubbing circles on her back.
“Wrong tube?” Zac cooed, sending currents of electricity straight to her toes. She nodded, and he leaned in to whisper. “Always trying to make a scene, aren’t you, tabby cat?”
His breath smelled warm and spicy from his drink and tickled at the hairs tucked behind her ears. A sudden shiver rippled through her, making her grateful for having shrugged into her little green cardigan earlier. She fiddled with a button on the front before glancing back at her table guests.
Lucy’s unblinking anime eyes and matching grin were the exact opposite of her husband’s scowly, squinty-eyed stare. Fortunately for Tabitha, the malice on Jonathan’s face was directed at Zac. Tabitha shrugged his hand off her back and scooched her chair to add a little distance.
Returning herself to her notes, she said, “Will you tell me how you two met?”
“I’m much more interested in what’s going on here,” Lucy purred, leaning in on both elbows. She practically wiggled with excitement.
Jonathan sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “So am I.”
Chapter twenty-eight
Zac
Waytoplayitcool, numb nuts.
Zac was supposed to be proving to his friends that he could be professional—especially when working with a beautiful client. Jon wasn’t convinced Zac could keep his hands to himself, and gently stroking Tabitha’s back as she choked on her drink wouldn’t exactly sway his friend’s opinion.
Lately it had been easier and easier to keep his hands to himself at work.
Until tabby cat showed up.
If he wasn’t near her, he’d fantasize about being near her. He thought about their interlude the night before incessantly. Sleep had eluded him and even when he did catch a wink, his dreams were hazy, lust-filled watercolors drenched in the pure essence of her. Her smell, her taste. The way she’d clamped around his fingers as she succumbed to an orgasm in that alley.
Zac respected his ex. He wanted her to succeed where this article was concerned—which meant keeping his hands off and letting her do her job, but fuck if those same hands didn’t keep finding ways to touch her. Like they did as she choked on her Americano.
What was he supposed to do? Sit back and wait until she gathered herself?
Probably.
But that reaction felt impossible.
And so, yeah. He patted her back. Anyone would have done that. Though not everyone would have leaned in to whisper a tease, but he’d done that too.
In front of Jonathan and Lucy.
Fuck.
Zac was about to come clean and confess. To everything. Until Tabitha beat him to it. Kind of.
“We’re old friends,” she produced in a startlingly calm cadence.
“Friends?” Jonathan asked, keeping his skeptical, all-seeing eyes all over Zac.
“Yes. We met many years ago in Seattle. He spent a month or so following my brother, Angus, and me around the city.”
“Is this true?” Jonathan asked.
To which Zac nodded.
